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Srikalahasti
[ Edit ] Overview
Srikalahasti, located in Andhra Pradesh and close to Tirupati, is one of the more important temple towns in South India and is located on the banks of the Swarnamukhi a tributary of the Pennar River.
Srikalahasti's fames derives from being home to one of the Panchabootha Sthalams or the temple celebrating Lord Shiva as the embodiment one of the primary elements (Fire, Space, Water, Earth, Air). The Sri Kalahasti Temple in this town celebrates Lord Shiva in his element as Air. The temple, which dates back over 2,000 years, was built in its current form during the period of King Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagar / Hampi fame, occupies the area between the river bank and the foot of the hills.
There is a legend that the Siva Linga in this town was worshipped by a spider (Sri), a snake (Kala) and an elephant (Hasti) who attained salvation - thus leading to how the name Srikalahasti came about.
[ Edit ] History
Quick Facts
[ Edit ] State
Andhra Pradesh, India
[ Edit ] Location
Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh
[ Edit ] Best Time To Visit
October to March are the best months to visit Srikalahasti.
[ Edit ] Tourist Offices
[ Edit ] STD Code
8578
Sightseeing
[ Edit ] Bhakta Kannappa Temple
Also known as the Kannappa Temple, the Bhakt Kannapa Temple was built in honor of the great Hunter and Saint - Kannappa. The legend goes that Kanappa, a devoted disciple of Lord Shiva, sacrificed his eye for the lord, and who when in the act of also offering his 2nd eye was stopped from doing so by the Lord himself.
A Shiva lingam with associated art work, that commemorates the whole episode with Kannappa, is located under the tree outside the temple area.
[ Edit ] Chaturmukeshvara Temple
[ Edit ] Dakshina Kali Temple
[ Edit ] Manikarnika Temple
[ Edit ] Pandurangaswami Temple
[ Edit ] Prasanna Varadaraja Swamy Temple
Sri Prasanna Varadaraja SwamyTemple is located close to the Srikalahasti Temple.
[ Edit ] Sahasra Linga Temple
[ Edit ] Sri Subrahmanya Swamy Temple
[ Edit ] Srikalahasti Temple
The Sri Kalahasti Temple is the most important temple in this town. It is famous as the only shrine for the God of Wind in India - Vayu Deva. While the roots of the temple date back over 2,000 years, the foundation for the current temple dates back to the 12th century and was constructed by the Chola king, Rajendra Chola. It was subsequently renovated and improved upon by King Krishnadevaraya of Hampi (Vijaynagar empire). The temple, of Dravidian design, has a large gopuram, hundred pillared mandapam, and beautiful prakaras.
As the legend goes, the Srikalahasti Temple was named after three animals - Sri (spider), Kala (snake), and hasti (elephant) who were ardent devotees of Lord Shiva and were able to attain divinity.
Sri the Spider was Vishwakarma`s (architect of the Deva Ganas) son Oornanabha who, in trying to replicate Brahma`s creation, annoyed Lord Brahma who in turn cursed him to become a Spider. Shiva himself is believed to have cursed the Snake while the Elephant was Lord Pramadha who was cursed by Shiva`s wife - Parvati - when he intruded on their privacy.
The Shiva lingam at the Sri Kalahasti Temple is therefore an amalgamation and a reflection of the three devoted animals. It is shaped like an elephant's trunk, with tusks on each side and a figure of the spider at the bottom. However, if you look at the linga from above it looks like a snake with 5 hoods.
The main Shiva lingam at this temple is untouched by human hands. Not even the Head Priest is allowed to touch it. The bathing of the lingam ("Abhisheka") is done by pouring a mixture of water, milk, camphor, and panchamrita. Traditional offerings of flowers, sandal paste and the sacred thread are not offered to this lingam - but instead to an alternate - the utsava-murti.
The lamps inside the inner, windowless, sanctum of the temple constantly flicker despite the seeming lack of any movement of air inside - and even when when the priests close off the entrance to the main deity room. This phenomenon is attributed to Lord Shiva in his manifestation of Air. As such, it is often referred to as the "Vayu Linga". However, for ardent devotees, it is not the lingam that is the true deity at the temple, but the wind that is causing the flames to flicker.
While the Srikalahasti Temple celebrates Lord Shiva in his element as Air, the other four Panchabootha Sthalams are the following:
- Thiruvannamalai (Fire)
- Chidambaram (Space)
- Tiruvanaikkaval (Water)
- Kanchipuram (Earth)
[ Edit ] Sukabrahm Ashram
Sri Vidya Prakasananda Giri Swamy, a reknowned scholar of Hinduism, Hindu philosopy, and short stories, established an ashram - the Sukabrahm Ashram. This Ashram is worth a vist for those interested in religion and philosophy.
[ Edit ] Surya Pushkarni and Chandra Pushkarini Wells
Adjacent to the Suryanarayana Temple are two wells - Surya Pushkarani and Chandra Pushkarani - which are popular amongst pilgrims to Srikalahasti.
[ Edit ] Veyilingala Kona Waterfalls
The Veyilingala Kona Waterfalls are located 8 kms east of Sri Kalahasti. In Telugu, "Veyilingala Kona" means "the valley of the thousand lingas", and is believed to be due to the many rocky formations around and in the water around the falls which remind people of Shiva lingams.
This beautiful, cascading, waterfalls are believed to have special healing properties and that help people who bathe there attain salvation. Monsoon and post-monsoon months are the most enchanting times to experience the Veyilingala Kona Waterfalls.
[ Edit ] Viswanatha Temple
Planning a Trip
Getting There
[ Edit ] Air
The closest airport to Srikalahasti is in Tirupati.
[ Edit ] Rail
The closest railway junction to Srikalahasti is in Tirupati.
[ Edit ] Road
NH-205 passes through Srikalahasti connecting Nayudupeta (on NH-5) to Madanapalle.
Driving distance to Srikalahasti from:
- Bangalore: 282 kms
- Chennai: 117 kms
- Horsley Hills: 180 kms
- Kanchipuram: 125 kms
- Mahabalipuram: 172 kms
- Sri Venkateswara National Park: __ kms
- Tirupati: 36 kms
- Vijayawada: 380 kms
[ Edit ] Getting Around
[ Edit ] Other Information
[ Edit ] Shopping
Srikalahasthi is famous for the distinctive Kalamkari paintings - the art of painting with vegetable paints. Mythological stories are prominently painted in this unique stye.
[ Edit ] Food
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